I.D.E.A.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility

The conference theme for TEI 2024 is ‘On The Edge’ echoing the location Cork, Ireland—a port city on the edge of Europe, an island nation, and yet connecting to other places, cultures and opportunities. The name Cork is of Irish origin [ˈkɔɾˠkəɟ] meaning marsh. Marshes are wetlands at the edges of water bodies. Ecologically, marshes play a unique role as life-regulating porous boundaries between flowing water and solid ground. Marshes thus symbolically represent bridges of transition between different worlds, thriving ports for potential interactions, and transitory havens that sustain those who gather at the same place with different purposes. TEI 2024 at Cork draws attention to work that is situated at the edge of known areas or possibly transcends or cuts through a number of disciplines, and in doing so takes a risk true to the spirit of TEI. In this context, why hold a lunch event dedicated to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA)?

 

Perhaps, Cork, a land that has evolved from a monastic settlement to thriving port, is a befitting venue for TEI 2024, which aims to bring together multiple ways of knowing. The theme ‘On The Edge’ evokes anticipation in the present by bringing together diverse perspectives to creatively explore what *might* be possible for our shared, equitable futures. During the first Diversity and Inclusion Lunch at TEI 2019, conference attendees discussed: (a) exploring diverse submission formats (other than words) and venues for presenting TEI related work; (b) establishing review criteria for meaningfully evaluating ‘Contributions to Diversity & Inclusion’ in TEI, and; (c) Explicitly drawing out methodological implications of TEI related work with respect to IDEA. The theme of TEI 2024, On The Edge, hints at a liminal experience: a sense of disconnection but also of opportunity and openness. Edges may wield sharp or blunt cuts; embedded cuts may give form or mutilate bodies; interactive technologies may alienate or provide opportunities for creative shared explorations.

 

At TEI 2024, we aim to celebrate the diversity of the TEI community through multiple activities and policies to the best of our abilities. We hope to engage in discussions about how our research efforts can enhance our understanding of IDEA within communities and collaborate on strategies that empower those who have been marginalised and made to feel “On The Edge” in different contexts. We have organised an IDEA lunch with a special performance from MTU Creativity and Change Playback Theatre group, Theatre for Transformation. The lunch will give us an opportunity to celebrate our diversity and inclusion and to share our experiences. IDEA stories will then be performed by the Playback Theatre company. Details of this event are being finalised, and more information will be available soon.

 

Through multiple activities and policies, we aim to celebrate the diversity of the TEI community, engage in discussions about how our research efforts can enhance our understanding of IDEA within communities, and collaborate on strategies that empower those who have been marginalised, and made feel “on the edge.”

Equity Volunteer Training Program

Building on the success of the Allyship Trainings at CHI 2019, we are now piloting an Equity Volunteer Training Program for TEI conference attendees.

The Equity Volunteer Training Program covers the basics of understanding and identifying discrimination and harassment, as well as tips for bystander intervention and conference specific resources to support and direct victims towards.

 

After completing the training, you will have knowledge to become an informal, knowledgeable, in-person point of contact for conference goers. As an “Equity Volunteer” you will be aware of basic inclusion, harassment and discrimination SIGCHI policies, and know more about TEI specific escalation pathways and safe people at TEI to report experiences to (i.e. IDEA chairs, CARES, etc.).

 

The training will last 1.5 hours and will be hosted online with live captioning. We will do two training sessions of the same content, please choose the time slot which fits you best:

  1. Wednesday, January 31st: 19:00 [UTC +0] (see in your time zone here)
  2. Thursday, February 1st: 9:00 UTC +0] (see in your time zone here)

Please sign up via this link.

Providing an Experience that supports the diversity of TEI community members

We recognise the people joining our community from different parts of the world (some with visa challenges), cultural backgrounds, abilities and disabilities. At the conference:

    • There will be wheelchair accessible and gender neutral bathrooms at each venue

    • We have designated two rooms in the hotel to serve as a Quiet Room and Nursing Room

    • Attendees will optionally be able to share their pronouns via stickers they can place on their badge at the registration desk.

IDEA Co-Chairs

The IDEA Chairs for ACM TEI 2023 are Gopinaath Kannabiran, Sarah Robinson and Ding Wang. Our goal is to strive to provide an inclusive, equitable, accessible, and enjoyable conference experience to all conference attendees. Please contact us on diversity@tei.acm.org for any questions, ideas or comments on how we can make this Conference work best for you.

Brief History